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DeliciousShin-Da Harbor (global-adventures.us): The Taiwan Ocean Research Institution (TORI) hopes that Iver2 will to establish an ocean information database and network. The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) will allow the institution to map and photograph the ocean floor using side-scan sonar and an onboard camera system.
During a 4-year research initiative, TORI hopes to develop and build core technologies for long-term marine environment and ecology observation, undersea earthquake research, monitoring practices, and ocean exploration. 
Iver2 will also be used to mitigate marine hazards and use a Mission Planning and Data Presentation tool called VectorMap to make it location aware.
TORI is currently in charge of the construction of the 2,700 ton research vessel, which will be completed by 2012 and begin to operate. Taiwan hopes that the new vessel will help to test new ocean exploration technologies and further biological oceanography research.
The Iver2 series of AUV’s can be launched from shore and have a depth rating of up to 328 feet (100 meters). A single operator can launch and retrieve several vehicles at the same time, according to the manufacturer.
Photo: Ocean Server
